Staff Reports
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the darling of the progressive left, recently experienced a setback that would make anyone stop and consider their career choices. After attempting to seize a powerful leadership role on the House Oversight Committee—a turf historically ruled by establishment Democrats—she was bested by veteran Rep. Gerry Connolly from Virginia. In the world of Democratic politics, this is akin to being knocked out in the first round of a heavyweight boxing match.
Reflecting on Ocasio-Cortez’s predicament, former President Donald Trump couldn’t help but toss a bone in her direction. He remarked on Truth Social that it was “really too bad” she lost out in this intra-party tussle. Interestingly, he seemed to imply that perhaps, just perhaps, a little perseverance could help her in future competitions. One could almost hear the collective gasps from the left at the thought of Trump showing sympathy for one of their biggest stars. After all, sympathy from Trump is like an ice-cream cone in the middle of a snowstorm—hardly expected and thoroughly confusing.
AOC just lost her race to become ranking member of the House Oversight Committee.
This could be a problem for @AOC, she doesn’t handle rejection well. pic.twitter.com/PD7Lp0DNls
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) December 17, 2024
In her signature blend of snark and self-deprecation, Ocasio-Cortez responded, quipping that it’s pretty dire when Trump feels bad for her. This was accompanied by a laughing emoji that practically begged her followers to either laugh with her or at her—it’s hard to tell sometimes with these social media antics. It’s a classic AOC moment: a mix of humor, defensiveness, and a dash of desperation, all wrapped in a meme-worthy package. Her response could easily double as a TikTok soundbite as she pokes fun at her own misfortunes.
However, it isn’t just Trump chiming in on AOC’s underwhelming performance. She got a friendly nod from Rep. James Comer, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee. He expressed a willingness to work with her, despite not being her biggest fan policy-wise. Apparently, he’s more impressed with her speaking abilities than her actual legislative ideas—a compliment that might just be the highest praise she’ll get from the GOP for a while. It’s a curious blend of respect and condescension, like saying someone is great at playing the ukulele but not mentioning their complete lack of skill with a guitar.
As the Democrats continue to grapple with their internal struggles, one can’t help but imagine the scene: old-school Democrats clenching their jaws at the prospect of being led by the likes of AOC, while the progressive wing rolls its eyes at the perceived incompetence of the party’s veterans. Whether this comedy of errors strengthens or weakens the party remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the more drama unfolds within the Democratic ranks, the more popcorn should be stocked. After all, watching AOC and her colleagues battle it out is becoming the new favorite pastime for many conservatives, who can’t get enough of the hilarity.
